Opinion: Let’s lift casino limits (The Denver Post, 12/27/07 – CO)“A “cancerous cyst” is how an expert at Focus on the Family recently described gambling. Which is clearly nonsense, when you realize gambling is far less harmful than well, than cancerous cysts, for instance. Now that State Rep. Al White, R-Winter Park is working on a voter proposal to allow no-limit gambling in Colorado, which he posits will bring an additional $100 million in yearly tax revenue for tourism and higher education, we’re sure to hear plenty of similar hyperbole. Chad Hills of Focus on the Family has already promised his group will “launch a full-fledged war against any legislator or legislation that promotes 24-7 gambling.”

Beshear: Budget gap $434 million (Evansville Courier Press, 12/28/07 – KY)“Beshear refused to offer any details and said he plans to announce more next week. He said his “utmost priority” is to sustain essential government services, especially for the state’s most needy. Beshear said he was considering a state government hiring freeze but would not consider layoffs or raising taxes. He also pumped his plan to push lawmakers into offering voters a proposal to amend Kentucky’s constitution to allow casino gambling.”

Arlington OKs bets against house (The Daily Herald, 12/28/07- WA)“Blackjack, Spanish 21 and Ultimate Texas Hold ’em could soon be coming to Arlington. Beginning New Year’s Day, the previously outlawed card games and dozens of others will be legal in certain parts of town. A new law allows players to bet against the house in minicasinos located in highway-commercial zones. The casinos must be at least 1,000 feet from existing day care centers, schools, churches, synagogues and temples.”

Montanans help Navy commander set up poker tournament in Iraq (Helena Independent Record, 12/25/07 – MT)
“Lt. Chris Casne, a Helena native and commander of a Navy mobile construction battalion based at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, wrote home for suggestions on what he could do to help his fellow sailors through the holiday season. Here at home, Casne’s inquiry launched a brainstorming session that, in the end, resulted in the idea of a Montana Hold ’Em poker tournament. In place of gambling away their hard-earned pay, however, the sailors will win Montana prizes donated from local businesses.”